The global growth of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme over the first 40 years: a critical assessment

Abstract

The year 2007 was a highly significant one for ‘international education’ in an ‘internationally minded school’ context. It marked the fortieth anniversary of the first trial exam of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This paper charts the rather random global growth of this programme, from it being a long‐awaited experiment in international education sat by 147 students in two schools, to it being a curriculum offered in 1779 schools in 128 countries. It is shown how the initially Eurocentric bias of the global spread has become a distinct North American one. At present 35% of schools can be found in the US, whilst Africa accounts for only 2%. In 38 countries there is a single school offering the programme. The wider implications of this regional disparity are explored, concluding that perhaps the programme requires a more critical and planned growth strategy.

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